Stamford crime slightly down in first half of '09

Crime in Stamford dipped slightly through the first half of 2009, with sizable decreases seen in the number of robberies and serious offenses, according to a preliminary report released Wednesday.

Crime in general was .7 percent lower through the first six months of 2009 when compared with the first six months of last year, according to the figures, which are verified by the state of Connecticut Crimes Analysis Unit.

"Obviously with .7 percent, we can't get too excited about it," said Lt. Sean Cooney, Stamford police spokesman. "But if the numbers reflect that crime is moving in the right direction, were pleased."

In Stamford, serious crime, which includes homicides, assaults and robberies, is down 17.7 percent. More specifically, homicides remained flat at one, while robberies dropped 25.8 percent and assaults dipped 17 percent.

Rape, which jumped 28.6 percent, was the only serious crime to show an increase.

As has been the trend with a slumping economy, property crime, which includes burglary, larceny and motor vehicle thefts, continued to increase.

Overall, property crime through the first half of 2009 rose 2.7 percent, compared to the same time period last year.

Larceny was the only property crime to mark an increase, jumping by 63 incidences, or by 8.7 percent.

The number of reported burglaries fell by four, from 145 to 141, and the number of motor vehicle thefts dropped a significant 30.8 percent, from 107 incidences in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Cooney said the increase in property crime, specifically larcenies, "doesn't come as a surprise" given the current state of the economy.

Vehicle break-ins continue to be a problem for the Stamford Police Department, he said.

"Given how tight our budget is, there's not much we can do in terms of increasing patrols," he said.

He reiterated his pleas for the public to take precaution by locking car doors and closing windows and making sure an items of value are out of plain site.

Mayor Dannel Malloy responded to the city's slight decrease in crime by saying in a statement: "This is an extraordinary achievement by the men and women of the Stamford Police Department."

He added: "I am very proud of our police department personnel and I commend everyone in Stamford who works so hard to maintain and enhance our public safety. Especially during an economic downtown, when crime tends to increase, Stamford remains a safe and vibrant community to live, work and raise a family."